Flexible closure



Sept. ifs, 1930i EIH. BlNN's 1,776,142

FLEXJQBLE CLQSURE Filed March Soi 1929 wn-N 5526 Z0 L 'l /d Mme; y /3 www Patented Sept. 16, `1930 UNITED. STATES lPA'I'ENT oFFlca- EDWARD ri. BINNs, or rrrrs'zsunen, rmmsnvanm FLEXIBLE cLosUBn Application led March 30, 1 929. Serial No. 351,202.

Aout of interlocking engagement. More spe-v cifically, the present invention is particularly adaptable to the form of suchfiexible closures in which the cam slider operates solely upon the lmetal of the fastening devices (out of contact with the material of the stringers) in engagement with intermediate lugs or shoulders thereon, exposing outside of the slider sidewalls the heels or yoke ends of the fastening devices that are clamped upon the folded bead or thickened edge portions of the strips or stringers. This form of flexible closure is illustrated in. a number of recent patents issued to Edward H. Binns, and Ralph H. Binns such, for example, as Patent N o. 1,553,499 dated September 15, 1925, and Patent No. 1,701,555 dated February 12,1929. The cam slider of the .present invention comprises the suitably connected fore-plate and back-plate, spaced to provide the fastener-receiving channels, 'and having upon the fore-plate outwardly presented projections, preferably in the form of small scrolls at the opposite upper corners and the lower end of the fore-plate, made integral with the foreplate by bending over projecting parts -of the prepared blank from which the slider fore-plate is made. The resultant slider has spaced scroll'projections angularly presented at its upper corners and providing a convenient 11p-pull with which the operators thumb or finger can readily and comfortably engage for cansino' the'fastener-locking movement of the slideryand a single scroll projection at its lower end providing a convenient and comfortable down-push for causing the fastener-unlocking movement of the slider.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a novel and simple form of slider latch for securing the-slider against movement at'any desired point upon the stringers. This improved slider latch j may be mounted upon any suitable projection u on the fore-plate of the slider, but it is pre erably mounted upon the bottom scroll or down-push member, by which it is effectively supported without interference with the lil function of said scroll as a down-push member. The latch is in the form of a sector- .shaped do mounted upon the end of a short effectively engage between thelheels or yoke- 05 i ends of adjacent fastening devices. c

It is preferred to provide two segmentshaped, latching dogs, one rigidly attached to each end of the short journal shaft` to present the dogs upon opposite sides of the slider to simultaneously latch between the yoke ends of fastening devices upon both stringere. The coupled dogs act in unison and to facilitate moving them into and out o engagement with the heels of the fastening I5 devices, one or both dogs is knurled or rough-.. ened part way round the hub concentric wlth the journal shaft. A stop pin projects laterally from the slider to plate in position to be engaged by one o the latching dogs` and limit the latching movement of said dogs upon the slider when they are in engagement with the fastening devices. An auxiliary latch or keeper' movably mounted u on the slider is adapted to'engage one or bot of the 86 latching-dogs to prevent their releasing movement upon the slider. In this Way thel slider is effectively latched against movement in either direction upon the stringere.

To prevent accidental displacement of the v slider entirelyoil thestringers by moving it beyond the upper ends o the stringers, a slider stop of suitable form "should be pro-n vided. The resent invention includes a.

lsimple and e ective device for limiting the 05 displacement of the slider beyond the ends vof the stringers, consisting in an interlockingfastening device -or devices modified 4in shape or in position upon the Stringer to cause such changed fastening device orde- 10 I vices to block the interengagement and pas sage of fastening devices in the slider. The stop-forming modification of the fastening devices can be accomplished in several ways. With the preferred bifurcated hookform of fastening device shown in the present case, the desired result can be effectively accomplished by slightly bending together the prongs of one or two bifurcated hook fasteners within a few fasteners of the top of the stringers; or two of the fastening devices may be rigidly coupled together and strained slightly out of normal position by means 0f fine wire, or by solder or equivalent material; or the shape of one or two of the fastening devices may be modified with a wrapping of Wire or a drop of solder or equivalent material. In any such arrangement the modified fastening devices cannot interlock with the fastening devices in normal form and position, and therefore they will jam and prevent the alternate engagement of fastening devices in the slider which blocks the passage of the fastening devices and arrests the movement of the slider thereon.

In order that the invention may be fully understood it will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the novelty afterwards particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In said drawings i Figurel is a front elevation of a part of a flexible closure embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the sector-shaped dog in slider latching position; j

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the fore-plate and attached parts of theslider removed;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation similar to Figure 2 showing the slider latching dog 'in released position;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively vertical lines 6 6 and 7`7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is 'a view similar to Figure 3 showing a slight modification of the device for limlting the movement of the slider upon Athe closure; and

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of part of a closure Stringer showing ayfu'rther modifiedarrangement for limiting the movement of the slider upon the stringers.

In constructing the flexible closure of the type to which the present invention relates, two flexible strips or stringers, such'as in# dicated at l and 2, are formed at their inner edgesy with beads or thickened portions 3 and 4 for the attachment of the interlocking fastening devices.

Each of the stringers 1 and 2 is provided vforked hook 13 projecting downwardly from the upper unobstructed face of the fastening devices. Each fastening device is provided between its yoke l() and forked hook 13 with lugs or shoulders 15 projecting oppositelyy from the body adjacent to the narrow neck and located when fastened upon the stringer A in alignment with the beaded edge of the Stringer. The fastening devices are mounted upon the stringers in suitable spaced relation so as to present the fastening devices alternately in the two series to permit them to alternatelyv interlock within the. channeled and groovcd controlling slider.

The operating cam slider is made up of a back-plate 20 and a fore-plate 21 rigidly7 united by a bridge 23. A spacing binding `post 22 is mounted between the fore-plate and the back-plate for ensuring their spaced relai ion which provides the fastener receiving channels of the controlling slider. The inner faces of the back-plate and fore-plate (constituting the walls of the slider channels) are formed with controlling grooves 25 which run parallel in the lower portion of each plate and diverge or spread apart to-y ward their upper ends. 'lhe channel face of each of these plate portions of the slider between the controlling grooves constitutes a. center rib 26, forming guide faces for the engagement and guiding of the side prongs of thefOrked hooks 13 of the fastening de- Apassage of the fastening devices attached to the l stringers. and horizontal sectional views' taken on the g The foreplate 21 is provided at its upper opposite corners with outwardly presented projections. preferably in the form of spaced smallscrolls v28, preferably made integral with the fore-plate by starting with a properly shaped blank. The fore-plate is also formedy at its'lower end with a single scroll-shaped projection 29 also preferably formed integral with the fore-plate. The

'projections at the upper corners of the foreplate are spaced and at a slight angle to the longitudlnal axis of the slider to afford a slider. This lower down-push scroll 29 affords a bearing for the slider latch, presently to be described, but the parts of the slider latch that are presented outwardly do not interfere with the function ofthe scroll as a downpush member.

Freely journalled in the scroll member 29 is a short shaft 30 having rigidly attached to ,its projecting opposite ends the segmentshaped latching dogs 35 which are thereby v presented upon opposite sides of the slider in planes intersecting the mounted ends of the fastening' devices. The heel or 'hub portions of these dogs 35- are semi-circular in. shape and knurled orlroughened to facilitate turning the dogs into and out of active position. The pointed ends of these dogs 35 project eccentrically from their hub portion and are designed to engage between the yoke ends or heels of two adjacent fastening members of the closure stringers, the described engagement being effected by rotation of the coupled dogs by pressure of the thumb or finger upon the knurled or roughened hub portions and when the engagement is almost complete by aslight downward movement of the slider upon the stringers. Stop pins 37 project laterally from the sides of the slider in the path Iii lthe plate.

of the latching dogs 35 to limitthe latching movement of the dogs upon the slider asindicated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The latching dogs 35 are also formed with notches or recesses at 38 with which engage the lateral projections 40a of the auxiliary latching device or keeper for the purpose of preventing the accidental unlatching movement of the dogs. The keeper or auxiliary latching plate 40 passes through a slot or opening 4l cut in the lower scroll 29 just above the top surface of the fore-plate. The portion of the latching plate 40 that passes through the slot 41 is relatively narrow as indicated in Figures 6 and 7, while the plate is broadened out to the full width of the space between the dogs 35 and curves up and. over the scroll 29 and is attached at the rear to the end of the narrow portion of This loop formation of the auxiliary latching plate 40 is the means for mounting it in operative relation to the latching dogs in a simple manner. The latching plate snugly fits upon the scroll bearing 29 so that it will have a natural tendency to remain in the position in which it is placed by pressure of the thumb or finger of the user. It will be understood that the latching position indiv cated in Figures 2 and 4 involves not only the engagement of the latching dogs, with the yoke portions of the fastening devices, but also the auxiliary latch or' keeper engagement with the dogs. f In this position of the parts the cam slider is securely held against movement either upwardly or downwardly upon the closure stringers. This latching of the slider can be effected in any position upon the closure. When it is desired to release the slider for movement upon the stringersi,

a slight upward pressure upon the latch orkeeper 40 releases the keeper from the dogs, and the pressure of the thumb or finger upon the knurled or roughened 'hubs or heels of dogs tends to rotate the dogs out of engagement with the mounted ends of the fastening devices upon the stringers, a succecding slight upward movement of the slider upon the stringers, induced by pressure in the same direction, quickly releasing the dogs and freeing the slider for movement either upwardly or downwardly.

The final feature of the present invention comprises novel means for preventing they ac.

, cidental movement of the slider beyond thc upper ends of the stringers of interlocked fastening devices. This feature of the invention involves-the arrest ofthe slider in a position which will conceal the final fastening devices within t-he slider, a feature of some importance in connection with the artistic appearance of the closure. In accomplishing the desired'result one or more of the interlocking fastening devices is deformed or modified as to shape or positionto such an extend that under action of the slider, the changed fastening devices will not interlock` but will jam upon the oppositely presented normal fastening devices and prevent further movement of the slider over the obstructing jammed members of the stringers.

The simplest method of accomplishing this desired result as applied to the preferred form of interlocking members of P tent No.. 1,553,-

499 is to compress the jaws o one or more of t ening devices is to so lengthen or modify the shape of the interlocking ends at theeffected point that the two Series of interlocking members cannot interengage and therefore become-jammed. This is especially effective in connection with the interlocking fastening devices of the form in`which said devices khave .riding lugs engaged by controlling grooves in the slider which positively cont-rol said devices in both ing operations.

the locking and unlock- A similar effectfor preventing the slider I moving off the-stringers can be produced by.

placing a drop of solder upon one .ormoreof the fastening devices as indicated at y in Fig-'- ure 8 of the drawing and while a cruder form of construction, the result can with more or less satisfaction be accomplished by wrapping a piece of wire upon the fork of one of the invices to cause a jamming between opposite fastening devices to prevent the slider passing over the affected parts.

I claim 1. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

'combination of flexible strips, two series -of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said strips, said fastening devicesl being foi-ined with shoulders between their ends, and an operating member sliding upon said shouldered fastening devices and exposing their mounted ends, with a latching detent eccentrically .pivoted upon said operating member in position to rotate into engagement with the exposed rigidly7 mounted ends of adjacent fastening devices alongside of said operating member, and a stop limiting the latching movement of said detent.

2. In a. flexible closure yor fastener, the combination of flexible strips, two series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said strips, said fastening devices being formed With shoulders between their ends, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said shouldered fastening devices, and exposing their mounted ends,

with a latching detent ecceiitrically pivoted upon said operating slider in position to be.

rotated into engagement With the exposed rigidly mounted ends of adjacent ends of adjacent fastening devices alongside of said operating slider.

3. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

combination of flexible strips, tivo series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said strips, said fastening devices being formed with shoulders between their ends, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said shouldered fastening devices and exposing their mounted ends, with a latching detent eccentrically pivoted upon said operating slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of adjacent fastening devices alongside of said operating slider, and `means engaging said latching detent for holding it in slider sel curino position.

4. n a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips, two series of interlocking' shouldered fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said strips, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices and exposing their mounted ends with' a latching detent eccentrically pivoted upon said operating slider in position lto rotate into engagement with -mounted at one end upon said strips, and

an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices, between theirl ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a sector-sliaped latching detent eccentrically pivoted upon said operating slider'in posi tion to be rotated into engagement with the exposed rigidly mounted ends of fastening devices alongside of said operating slider.

G. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips, two. series of interlocking .fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said strips, said fastening devices being formed with shoulders between their ends, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said shouldered fastening devices, and exposing their mounted ends, with a sector-shaped latching detent eccentrically pivoted upon said operating slider in position to rotate into engagement with the exposed igidly mounted ends of adjacent fastening` devices alongside of said operating slider, said detent having a keeper receiving notch oi' recess, and a keeper upon said slider adapted to engage said notch or recess.

7.'In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of fiexible strips, two series of interlocking. fastening devices rigidly mounted at one end upon-said strips, and an operating slider sliding upon said fastening devices Ietween their ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a shaft mounted transversely on said slider, and a latching detent mounted upon said shaft and presented thereby at one side edge of the slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of adjacent fastening devices of one of said series.

8. In a flexible closure or fastener, the conibination lof flexible strips, two series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted at one endupon said strips, and an operating slider sliding upon said fastening devices between their ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a shaft mountedtransversely on said slider, two latching detents mounted upon said shaft and presented thereby upon opposite side edges of the slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly inouiitedends of adjacent fastening devices of both series.

9. In a flexible closure or fastener, the coinbination of flexible strips, tivo series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mountedl at one end upon said stiips, and an operating flexible closure or fastener, the

slider sliding upon said fastening devices betweentheir ends and exposing'sa-i'dmounted ends, with a shaft mounted transversely on said slider, two sector-shaped latching detents mounted upon said shaft upon opposite side edges of the slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of ad'acent fastening'devices of both series, an a keeper4 holding said detents against movement.

10. Ina flexible closure `or fastener, the combination of fiexible strips, two series of I interlocking fastening devices rigidly mountedlat one end upon said strips, and an operating slider sliding upon said fastening devices between their ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a shaft mounted transversely on said slider, two sector-shaped latching detents mounted u on said shaft upon opposite side edges of t 1e slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of adjacent fastening devices of both sition to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of adjacent fastening devicesiof both series, said detents having keeper receiving notches, a yoke embracing said shaft mounting and movable thereon, and keeper Afingers upon saidl yoke adapted to engage said notches and hold said detents against movel ment.

12. In flexible closure or fastener, the oombination of fiexible stringers, and spaced interlocking fastening devices mounted upon said stringers, with an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fasteningl de-V vices for interlocking and unlocking t em,

said slider having spaced laterally outwardly Cpresented scroll-like projections to form sli er-manipulating members. .v

13. In a flexible closure or fastener the combinationuof Iflexible stringers, and spaced interlocking fastening devices mounted upon said stringers, with an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking andunlocking them, said slider having .upon the upper end of its T fore-plateangularly arranged spaced scrolllikeprojections constitutin an uppull,. and upon the lower end of its ore-plate a single transverse scroll-like projection constituting a down-push, l

14., In a fiexible closure or fastener the combination -of Aiexible stringers, and spaced interlocking fastening devices mounted upon said stringers, with anoperating slider en-l gagin and sliding upon said fastenin devices" or interlocking and unlocking 51 said slider comprising the rigidly connected spaced back-plate and fore-plate, and' the fore-plate having at its upper opposite sides and its lower end integral outwardly presented scroll-like projections forming slidermanipulating members. l

15. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

em, A

combination of flexible stringers, and two v series o f spaced interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted -upon said stringers, with an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider comprising the rigidly connected spaced back-plate and fore-plate, the fore-plate of which has at its lower end an integral outwardly presented scroll-like projection forming a slidermanipulating member, a transverse shaft mounted in said scroll-like projection, and two latching detents'mounted u on said shaft at opposite sides of the slider 1n position to engage the secured ends of adjacent fastening devices of both series.

16. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible stringers, and two series ofspaced interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted upon said stringers, with an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider comprising the rigidly connected spaced back-plate and fore-plate, the fore-plate of which has at its lower end an integral outwardly presented scroll-like projection formingV a slidermanipulating member, a transverse shaft mounted in the scroll-like projection at the lower end of the fore-plate, two latching detents mounted upon said shaft upon opposite side edges of the slider in position to engage vthe secured ends of the fastening devices,

said detents having keeper-receiving notches or recesses, a keeper-yoke movably mounted upon said shaft-carrying scroll, and fingers upon said keeper-yoke adapted to engage said detent notches or recesses and hold said detents against movement.

7. In a flexible closure or fastener the combination of liexible stringers carryin spaced interlocking fastening devices forme .with riding lugs ,'or shoulders and twopronged hooks, and a channelled operating slider formed with controlling grooves engaging said riding lugs 'or shoulders and positively controlling the movements of the fastening devices in both the interlocking and unlocking operations, with a sto for limiting the interlocking action of the s ider, said stop comprising a fastening device with abnormally presented prongs arranged adjacent to one end of one of the strin ers in position to jam with other fastening evices' within the slider and thereb)r limit the movement of the slider in one dlrection upon the stringers.

18. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips, two series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted at one end upon said strips, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon said fastening devices between their ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a sector-A shaped latching detent mounted eccentrically upon said slider, said detent having a milled or roughened operating portion and a projection which is adapted to be rotated into u engagement with the exposed rigidly mounted ends of fastening devices alongside of said slider.

19. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips, two series of interlocking fastening devices rigidly mounted at one end upon said strips, and an operating slider engaging and sliding upon -said fastening devices between their ends and exposing said mounted ends, with a. latching detent having a fastener-engaging projection and pivoted transversely upon said slider, said projection operating alongside of said slider in position to engage the exposed rigidly mounted ends of the fastening devices, a stop pin projecting laterally from said slider into the path of said detent, and means engaging said detent for holding it in latched position.

EDWARD BIN NS. 

